I just read 50 1.4 review and completely have no idea why NOONE mentions about its huge problems with AF. I have a 5D3 and tested 7(yes-seven) samples of 50 1.4. First one I just sold after servicing as I thought it's a lens problem or camera, next one I serviced 3 times with my camera. Thought it might be something with calibration, adjustments etc. Then I checked with my local shop another samples so...every 50 1.4 has the same issue!!

Why nobody check this lens AF with different distance??? it has HUGE focusshift at close distance and it is almost unuseble in some circumstances when stopped down. To be more detailed:

When focusing at close distance ie. up to 1m ie. 60 or 70 cm (if u set AFMA perfectly @ F1.4) the lens hits the target Checked and adjusted with LensCal. Now check the lens at f3.5 or f4.0 at the same close distance. No way u achieve the proper focus. It far away for your desired focus point. Backfocus is really bad. Point "0" is completely out of focus and blurred, the sharpest point is "2" or "3" at the scale.

The lens is completely unusable stopped down at close distance, 1.4 is very soft therefore there is now way the get really sharp photos or desired details. Lens spec. mentions 0,45m as minimum focus distance. Checked it with ie. f3,5 and watch where is focus, sharpness and where is the whole DOF-behind the focus point!

Now do the same with LV-perfect focus, razor sharp, completely different DOF position.

Another problem is focusing in incadescent light-try this with this lens-results are really different from daylight.

Tested a lot of 50 1.4 (seven) from diffrent sources, not is the same time, and all have the same problem. Why nobody mention about such a issue???

I just read 50 1.4 review and completely have no idea why NOONE mentions about its huge problems with AF. I have a 5D3 and tested 7(yes-seven) samples of 50 1.4. First one I just sold after servicing as I thought it's a lens problem or camera, next one I serviced 3 times with my camera. Thought it might be something with calibration, adjustments etc. Then I checked with my local shop another samples so...every 50 1.4 has the same issue!!

Why nobody check this lens AF with different distance??? it has HUGE focusshift at close distance and it is almost unuseble in some circumstances when stopped down. To be more detailed:

When focusing at close distance ie. up to 1m ie. 60 or 70 cm (if u set AFMA perfectly @ F1.4) the lens hits the target Checked and adjusted with LensCal. Now check the lens at f3.5 or f4.0 at the same close distance. No way u achieve the proper focus. It far away for your desired focus point. Backfocus is really bad. Point "0" is completely out of focus and blurred, the sharpest point is "2" or "3" at the scale.

The lens is completely unusable stopped down at close distance, 1.4 is very soft therefore there is now way the get really sharp photos or desired details. Lens spec. mentions 0,45m as minimum focus distance. Checked it with ie. f3,5 and watch where is focus, sharpness and where is the whole DOF-behind the focus point!

Now do the same with LV-perfect focus, razor sharp, completely different DOF position.

Another problem is focusing in incadescent light-try this with this lens-results are really different from daylight.

Tested a lot of 50 1.4 (seven) from diffrent sources, not is the same time, and all have the same problem. Why nobody mention about such a issue???

I've never had this issue, at least not that I know of (also using a 5D3)... but I also don't necessarily do focus calibration tests. I take photographs of subjects, and if they're "off" I adjust (I've done this with my Sigma 35 1.4 slightly).

I just read 50 1.4 review and completely have no idea why NOONE mentions about its huge problems with AF.

I've never had this issue, at least not that I know of (also using a 5D3)... but I also don't necessarily do focus calibration tests. I take photographs of subjects, and if they're "off" I adjust (I've done this with my Sigma 35 1.4 slightly).

Anyone else have this issue?

Nope. Used same lens/body combo for about 6 months before finding the 1.2L for a bargain.

I suspect I can answer why no one else mentions this huge issue: Nobody else is having the same issue as the poster asking the question. Let's see: 1 body, 7 copies of the same lens. What are the common denominators here?

Logged

A few bodies, some flashes, a tripod here and there, a handful of lenses. Plenty of equipment, a lot of perseverance, but not enough talent (yet).

I agree totally with the review and love my 50 1.4. I'd like to see the review doing a bit more to push would-be buyers into getting a hood though. Aside from reducing flare, the hood does a lot to protect the 50 1.4's particularly delicate AF mechanism. What's more there's no need to pay through the nose for the Canon hood - cheap compatibles serve just as well.

Regarding focus shift, that's not a problem I associate with the Canon 50 1.4. The AF isn't always as precise as newer lens designs (I usually take extra shots for safety) but once the MA has been dialled in it's pretty good. I wonder if Martin is talking about the Sigma 50 1.4, which is renowned for distance-related focus shift? (I experienced this myself with three copies, damn shame because the 77mm filter thread would have been nice)

I agree totally with the review and love my 50 1.4. I'd like to see the review doing a bit more to push would-be buyers into getting a hood though. Aside from reducing flare, the hood does a lot to protect the 50 1.4's particularly delicate AF mechanism. What's more there's no need to pay through the nose for the Canon hood - cheap compatibles serve just as well.

Ah, yes, I should have mentioned this. I have a cheap rubber hood that folds in and out and works great. No way was I paying for Canon's branded plastic money maker.

Ok, guys but the shift focus issuse cannot be realted to camera. I check focus at 1.4. Do not change distance. Change aparture to f 4.0 and the whole DOF is behind the proper point. Always the same behaviour.

Please check it on a close distance. It is not possible thats the camera issue. Thats the way i understand it. I am not talking about tiny shifts. Thats difference beetwen sharp eye or blurred eye on close portrait. I ve checked seven canon's 50s 1.4 and all behave the same.

Also I sent one copy to canon with my camera 2 or 3 times. Always the same result...and i am not crazy.

I would like to see the results of shooting a kind of test subject with meter or even a normal target from 60cm at 3.5 or 4.0. It is just impossible that the issue deas not exist! I checked so many samples and it was always blurry when stopped down.